NRF: Enhancing capacity to access, use and efficiently manage scarce recourses in rural communities: Experiences from Namibia and South Africa
STATUS: Current
PROJECT LEADER:
Van der Bergh, GM (Mr Gray), Karuaihe, ST (Dr Selma)
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS:
Ndlovu, MP (Mr Phumlani), Booysen, AS (Ms Denise), Jonas, S (Mr Siyanda), Mashile, L.J. (Ms Lebogang), Molokomme, MR (Miss ), Sakoane, LI (Ms Lineo), Mathebula, JH (Mr Jabulani)
DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: ()
Abstract
This is a collaborative study between the Human Sciences research Council (HSRC) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) to foster research collaboration and capacity building between the two institutions. The two institutions secured funding through a bilateral research programme between South Africa and Namibia, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) for the South African research component, while the National Commission, Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) is funding the Namibian research component.
The broad objective of this path-breaking joint study is to review various approaches, methods and techniques of rural water access and management in order to enhance capacity to access, use and efficiently manage scarce water resources in rural communities of Southern Africa. The aim is to facilitate the enhancement of capacity to use and manage the scarce water resources efficiently, through pro-poor interventions including the integration of pro-poor water management priorities in water policy. Further, there is a need to investigate and understand issues of water access, use and management and their potential to address poverty through consumption or other productive activities for agricultural and/or other business purposes.
The objectives of this collaborative study are to investigate the different modes of rural water access and management approaches by the various communities of Namibia and South Africa. The objectives in each country are to
(1) facilitate the enhancement of the capacity to use and manage the scarce water resources efficiently,
(2) make use of pro-poor interventions in order to integrate pro-poor water management priorities in water policy,
(3) investigate and understand local issues of water access, use and management and their potential to address poverty through consumption or other productive activities for agricultural and/or other enterprise purposes for poverty reduction, growth and socio-economic development.
The two research institutions plan to conduct studies in two regions/provinces of each country by investigating how rural water communities access and manage water resources in their respective regions. Researchers from both institutions will use appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques to collect data from the rural communities and the relevant government offices responsible for water provision and/or management. The aim is to inform and guide the two country governments on the potential benefits that could arise from efficient water use and management in rural areas or potential costs associated with the current systems of water provision and the necessary interventions to capacitate the communities and the relevant institutions in rural water provision. The study will document and draw lessons through exchange of expertise and skills transfer, both among the research institutions (to strengthen collaboration ??? and partly fulfil the mandates of both the HSRC and UNAM) and from researchers to extension officers, community members especially women, youth and other marginalised members, as well civil society and other relevant stakeholders. The engagement of junior researchers and graduate interns in the study will contribute towards capacity building of young researchers from both institutions, which is part of their mandates. Lessons from the study can be extended to other regions/provinces in the two countries, and also to other semi-arid countries within the SADC region as part of future research, depending on funding availability.
Through regular meetings and workshops, findings of the studies will be documented and presented to the relevant stakeholders, including community members who will form part of the stakeholder consultative group as key informants, and also to the National Research Foundation and the Namibian Ministry of Education.
